DAY 64 - Windows, Wiring and Wonder!!!

Catch Up Post #9 - 
Day 64 (Friday 2nd July) - Much Progress to report...

The Meter Box is now attached to the wall...

WINDOWS are all in place...  

We like windows...

Peak-a-boo :)))

It feels different to look out from the rooms through a window...  fun!

The window glass is all solar tinted to assist in the energy efficiency. The only glass that didn't get the tint is the stacker doors and living room windows. This was due to the fact that the stacker doors are under the alfresco (away from direct sun) and when open, the doors are stacked back together - 3 layers thick and the tint would then become very dark...  

We really want these stacker doors to connect to the outside, so we were concerned if they were tinted it would obstruct the view/detract from the openess...  Then the living room windows are right next to the stacker doors so they needed the same glass look for consistency in this main living space (our family 'hub')... 

 

 We also discovered that during the construction, the windows/door glass is covered with a protective coating called 'Goop'... thus the sticker on the front window...  

It means the glass have a skin-like opaque coating for the moment... Looking forward to seeing through them clearly when construction is over...

The Gas Points are now in place...  

These are the 3 points for the large gas bottles for our house gas supply.

Its very interesting to see the plumbing lines weaving over the outside walls - it will soon be all under the layer of brick.

Here is my man, posing at the loo window hehe :)

We also have Gas Point in the alfresco.  This particular gas point (for the many BBQs we intend to have) was taken out at one stage due to cost cutting. We thought we were being clever and eliminating the need for a Gas Supply...  but soon realised that we would need Gas anyway for the Hot Water System... silly us... so the alfresco gas point went back into the plan as soon as we could manage it...

A friend also pointed out to us that it could be used for those Gas Outdoor Heaters - I really really like that idea... I LOVE those gas heaters that mean you can still entertain outside even in cold weather... I can't wait to use our alfresco to its full potential - all year around...

The other development is the ELECTRICAL WIRING...

We met with the Electrician around one and half weeks earlier and chose the location points for switches and light fittings etc... He went around the house frame and wrote locations and info in crayon on the cement ground... (Amazingly the writing stays there for later on when the guys come in to do the work)

 

So it was a little bit of a thrill for my hubby to see the media room cables were done...

 

We can't afford a theatre system now but included a HDMI cable for a future projector... and cords for the speakers etc...

This way its all in place for a couple of years time when we might be able to afford the 'home theatre' to be added in.   This future planning idea makes my man happy :))) and me too :)))

What else to show for Day 64???

Well, here is a few more pics of where things are at... 

 

And here is a pic of the kitchen plumbing (to go into the island bench)...

The view looking out from inside the media room. The two frames are for the cavity slider doors to the media room. Where my daughter is scootering is the dining room.

This is the side view (standing on our neighbours land). 

On the left is the nature reserve and to the right is the front going out to the street.

There is still a bit of water around from occasional wet days...

... and the bricks are sitting waiting for their turn...  

...soon soon brickies...

Well that was a very long post... It's because I have sooo many photos to choose from - I probably post less than 50% of all the photos I take on site...

Extra cheers to those who make it to the bottom here :)

Way to perservere!!! haha :)

Thanks for stopping by :) I appreciate your visit :)

Comments very welcome....

Day 42 - WALL FRAMES provide the 3D experience

Driving down our street today I was actually quite nervous about what I was about to see.

For soooo long we have poured over our plans on paper...  concerned with the feeling of space, the size of the rooms vs having enough of the different living areas in the overall house....  

We tried to be/ had to be clever - we couldn't afford to have a separate hallway wall that hid the bedroom doors from view, extra large bedrooms or a guest wing... especially if I really hoped for a 'study nook', the TV out of the main living area (media room), somewhere for guests at least and and very importantly - an inviting living space (to hang out in together). 

 

 So... the final floorplans had a media room but not too big so that we still had enough room elsewhere for a study nook (media room will double as the guest room) ...  The bedrooms were minimum sized (just big enough)... The laundry went into a space near the garage... The long hallway (which I would have normally maybe avoided) will simply lead out to the 'inviting' living area/kitchen/dining that all face the large stacker doors that open up wide to the Alfresco...

Again, for sooo long I have tried to imagine what these 2D decisions / plans would look like in 3D... what will our 'spaces' be like in reality???

With the wall frames being finally erected, I was about to get a glimpse of this...  the first tangible 3D taste of our new home... hmmm... excited nerves...

Walking around the block, my first impression was that the rooms appeared smaller than I expected. 

I let the kids run up and down the back yard's dirt piles (they were so happy lol!) as I tentatively stepped onto the green framed maze...

Once 'inside' I was impressed with the height of the walls. Thats good for a feeling of space... After walking through (only the rooms not occupied by the carpenters), I began to relax more...

 Just breathe

 

The house is definitely not huge... its not a double story mansion... 

Yet it deliberately planned, thought out and strived for... 

It is a achievement of a dream to build...  

This 'space' is gonna be OUR new home and
the location of our family's sanctuary. 

After work, James joined me on site and we got to explore the rooms together.  How surreal it felt to be standing within the frames of our future bedroom and ensuite... Can't wait :)

As we talked through each space... "here is where the kitchen island bench will be... oh and is the TV on this side or that wall?   Look at the study nook!  I can't wait to see the stacker doors in place...." 

This is the view from the back yard. 

The alfresco is being done towards the end of the build (we outsourced the external concrete as a cost-saving step).  

The area without a frame is for a sliding door from the dining room. 
Next to this is the Media Room wall.

As we looked around, our 6 yr old daughter came in and was calling out into the exposed pipes sticking out of the slab (as one does)... 

Then we realised something...

- in the middle of the Media Room was a pipe... 

...hmmm that's supposed to be in the laundry...  

Turns out the laundry plumbing is slightly out of place... After a stress, and a chat with our site supervisor we are told they will fix it... Whew!  Later, James of course made funny jokes about it not being pleasant if "builders have to fiddle with his plumbing"... Gotta Laugh :)))

So, here is a few more photos to finish up for tonight...  

Photos of the kids of course :) 

Delivery of Timber Wall Frames - Day 41

So, I expected maybe a day or two of concrete drying before the next step... but no there was not a day's rest - with the timber wall frames being delivered to our site this morning.

I took these photos earlier today... 
Our Site Supervisor said the carpenters would have been on-site working this afternoon. The walls are beginning to go up as I write... The roof trusses are being delivered on Friday... And we can apparently expect that the roof will begin to be put up by the end of next week...

Here are some pics :) 

DAY 41 ~ timber delivery  

- these will be the walls of our home very soon :)

the wonderful Slab... 

 the colourful reflection...

...greys, greens, blue and fluffy white...

What a glorious sky today :)

We have also been busy talking light fittings and fans and electrical stuff.  

The electrician officially doesn't come on board until after the roof is up. That said, we instigated an early meeting with him yesterday.  I find it an interesting challenge to decide on elements of our house (that we will have to live with for a very long time) but not actually have a full concept of what it will all look like...  He was a great guy and took all my questions really well... 

Have to leave this post there... I feel like there are heaps of details that I will have to either just leave out or come back at a later stage to fill in... There is just not enough time to blog it all (and still get sleep :)

Thanks for reading :) Let me know if you've stopped by... Cheers :)))